Mizzou took LSU by surprise in Baton Rouge early on, opening the game on a 7-2 run. But LSU quickly corrected course, burying the visitors 108-55 to hand Mizzou its fourth consecutive loss. The 53-point margin was the worst loss in program history, breaking a record which stood for over 40 years. The previous record was a 118-68 loss to USC back in 1985.
It was a poor defensive outing for the visitors, giving up 100 points for the first time this season under Kellie Harper. LSU had absurd shooting splits of 47/41/87. In the middle two quarters the Tigers scored 62 points to bury Mizzou.
A big part of this success was the size advantage, as LSU outrebounded Mizzou 72-25. Specifically the home team won the offensive rebounding battle 30-9, leading to a 38-10 advantage in second-chance points. This size advantage was especially present near the rim with a 40-10 edge in paint points.
The final struggle for Mizzou was scoring contributions off the bench, as LSU won that battle 48-10. The Tigers continue to be shorthanded due to injuries with only four players coming off the bench and combining for 55 minutes. By comparison LSU saw five players come off the bench combing for 70 minutes.
Grace Slaughter (14), Chloe Sotell (11) and Shannon Dowell (10) carried the offensive load as the only Tigers in double-digits. The trio combined for nine of the team’s combined 16-made shots. But even these players struggled, finishing a combined 9-35 from the field.
Here’s how the game played out:
Mizzou jumped out to an early 7-2 lead during the first three minutes thanks to Slaughter’s strong offensive start. She scored five of the team’s first seven, finishing the first quarter with 10 points. But LSU bounced back from the slow start, finishing the quarter on a 21-7 to take a 9-point lead. Mizzou finished the quarter shooting a mere 5-15 from the field and 2-7 from three, struggling to match the offensive firepower of LSU.
LSU really started to separate themselves in the second quarter, taking a 54-22 lead into the half. They limited Mizzou’s offensive firepower to eight points in the quarter as the Tigers shot 2-19 while turning the ball over six times in the frame. The Tigers failed to attack the paint effectively, as 14 of the team’s 19 shots in the quarter came from outside the arc. LSU constantly deterred action around the rim with six first-half blocks.
The second half was all elementary from there with LSU winning the final 20 minutes 54-33. This half was where the Mizzou shortcomings on the glass shown through, losing the rebounding battle 37-11. As a result LSU finished with a 20-4 edge in second chance opportunities while shooting 19-41 from the field.
Mizzou continues to be shorthanded as Jordana Reisma was out of the lineup once again with the same nagging lower body injury that’s been bothering her the last several weeks. As a result Saniah Tyler was moved into the starting lineup for her first start as a Tiger.
This marks the fourth consecutive loss for Mizzou as injuries along with the difficult schedule has contributed to the Tigers’ struggles. This ties the longest losing streak this season under Coach Harper coming from Jan. 1-12 against four ranked opponents.
Things don’t get any easier in the SEC as Mizzou next travels to face No. 3 South Carolina at 7 p.m. on Thursday in Columbia (East). The game will be available to watch on the main SEC Network channel.